Hi All,
 
    So, I've been busy with other aspects of life.  I Bought Sonar Platinum last year (April 1, 2015 according to "My Products"), but have not yet installed it.  I'm sure I qualify for all of the monthly updates, I think by an annual payment (not by monthly subscription), and I renewed that in January IIRC (but that doesn't show on "My Products" for some reason).  So I've got like 14 months of updates to install.  I started building a new computer to replace my old DAW (which I believe is running X2 Producer - I never even got around to installing X3) when I bought Platinum, but only now have it completed (too much other stuff going on).
 
    I also have several things I bought before that (according to "My Products").  For example I see Melodyne Essential, Dimension Pro 1.5 (I actually see that three times w/3 different SNs and reg codes - dated 9/29/14, 6/22/13 and 3/13/12 - are these all the same? All are called 1.5 - did I buy that 3 times???), XLN Audio Addictive Drums, Rapture 1.22, Cakewalk Sound Center: Mellotron By DSF, Digital Sound Factory Vintage Keyboards for Cakewalk Sound Center Expansion Pack (from 7/23/2011), Guitar Rig 4 LE (from 2/5/2011).
 
    Plus things I've bought (or received for free?) since then.  Rapture Session, Kick Start Rapture Expansion, and XLN Audio Addictive Drums 2 Producer.
 
    So that sounds like a lot of cool stuff.  And I've finally gotten my act together and completed building a reasonably powerful i7-based new computer running Windows 7 (don't want all the data collection stuff of W10 - its not on the network anyway, so it would just be beating its head on the wall trying to phone home).
 
    The question now before me is - What do I need to do to install all of this and get all the cool stuff I'm entitled to with the monthly updates. and all the add-ons I've purchased?  Do I need to start with my original Platinum download from 4/1/15 and then follow that up with the 14 (or maybe 13) monthly update files?  Or is there a more expedient approach?  Particularly because my DAW system is not online, so I need to download stuff to my Linux box (the only system I allow on the internet), and then copy to flash memory stick (or some other USB capable HDD if it is too big for flash - not usually an issue anymore with my 64 GB USB3.0 flash sticks), and then install that on my DAW.
 
    And then, what about all those other "Add-ons"?  I assume perhaps most of them are still relevant, but perhaps some are superseded by new capabilities or something?
    Do I somehow have 3 different Dimension 1.5 instances?  Is this just because they came with different versions of Sonar?  I have 3 Producer, 7 Producer, X1 Producer, 8 Producer, 8.5 Producer, X2 Producer, X3 Producer and then Platinum.  Strangely (to me, anyway) the X1 is dated 2/5/2011, and the 8 and 8.5 are both dated 3/13/2012 - why would they be a year+ after X1?  Since I actually have 3 instances with their own SSN/License numbers, I assume it would be fine to install one for myself and then let someone else (such as the keyboard player in my band, and maybe my cousin) make use of the other instances?
 
    I have the Rock Legends Kit 3 for Session Drummer 3, an XLN Addictive Drums package and an XLN Addictive Drums 2 Producer package.  So does Addictive Drums supersede Session Drummer?  Is the Rock Legends Kit 3 compatible with Addictive Drums, or are these complementary products?  Will I have Session Drummer (since apparently the Rock Legends Kit 3 is just an additional kit for SD?), already when I install Producer?  Or is that a legacy from Sonar X1/2/3 (or even before), and if so, how would I get it on my new system?  And presumably the AD2 Producer version would be an improvement over the unnumbered non-Producer version (so I wouldn't have to bother with the first one, unless it had to be installed for the 2 Producer to install on top of it?)?
 
    I sure hope my Vintage Keyboards and the Mellotron Sound Packs are useful with something (presumably there is still a Digital Sound Factory capability or replacement in the current Sonar Platinum product?).
 
And what about Rapture 1.22 (6/22/2013), Kick Start Rapture Expansion (5/29/2015) and Rapture Session (11/24/2015)?  Does the later "Session" version supersede the other two?  Or do they all have unique things (sample sounds or whatever) that would be missing if they weren't installed?
 
I suppose the Guitar Rig 4 LE from 2/5/2011 is outdated/replaced by something better by now?  I hear people talking a lot these days about Melodyne, I assume "Essential" probably means a limited capability version, but with a date of 9/29/2014 I assume it still may be of some value), is that any good anymore?
 
And, before anyone asks, I did get the big announcement email, and the email invitation to upgrade for life for $99, which I'll likely be doing.  So, I want to get myself a solid foundation before forging off into the rest of my life :-)
 
Thanks for any insights,
--
Greg Y.
 
 
 
 
 
   

Hi. The update are cumulative, so you will only need the latest release. AD2 is an addition to Session Drummer, and will (to my knowledge) only play AD2 kits. I would recommend that you download CCC  https://www.cakewalk.com/Command-Center and use it to install all the new SONAR products. Rapture and Dimension are to my knowledge the same as they were in (at least) X3, and have updated to install via CCC. Others may know better.
Ps. I would also recommend that you put your specs in your signature (see mine). If you have any issues, you do not have to tell them your specs each time.
All the best.

Just be aware, AD2 does NOT install via CCC, you get a license code form CW (in your products page) and you have register with XLNAudio and download their installer (another CCC like online installer).
 
Re: your renewal. If you bought the renewal from a 3rd party (jrrshop or audiodeluxe etc.) that has to be manually activated. If you bought it from CW, then it's automatically activated via the purchase and when you install SONAR and look at Help->About is should show you're expiration date.
 
HTH
 
 

Well, my DAW computer can't go online (no protections, firewall off, no AV software...).  I access the web via a Linux box, download stuff, copy to a memory stick and install that way.  Does the CCC function through the web browser (thus Firefox could work with it?), or am I SOL in that regard?  I suppose I could use an old laptop I have that still runs Win XP - perhaps I could run the CCC on that system and copy files over to my DAW?
 
--
Greg Y.
 

gyoungdahl
Well, my DAW computer can't go online (no protections, firewall off, no AV software...).  I access the web via a Linux box, download stuff, copy to a memory stick and install that way.  Does the CCC function through the web browser (thus Firefox could work with it?), or am I SOL in that regard?  I suppose I could use an old laptop I have that still runs Win XP - perhaps I could run the CCC on that system and copy files over to my DAW?
 
--
Greg Y.
 

CCC must run on the computer where you want SONAR (and associated content) is to be installed.
 
You'll need to do the offline installer (and activation) method.
 
And you will need to contact XLN Audio on to do an offline install of AD2.

Presumably AD2 has a method to install for DAWs that don't go online?
 
And - yes, I did purchase through the Cakewalk store.  It all shows up on the "My Products" page, except that the renewal of Platinum (on 1/22/2016) shows up on "My Store Activity" rather than "My Products".
 
Also, (to Zarrg71, or whoever may know) - just a clarification... AD is "an addition to" or "in addition to" Session Drummer.  The distinction being (in my mind anyway) that "an addition" would imply that it adds on to and thus requires Session Drummer for its functionality, where "in addition" would suggest that it was something separate that would work even if there were no Session Drummer on the system.  Does Platinum have Session Drummer?  If not, I'd guess that (since you say that AD uses only AD kits) that the Session Drummer Add-on pack is useless to me now.
 
And I guess I still need some info relating to the Digital Sound Factory.  Does that still exist in (or included with) Platinum?  Is there some way for my Mellotron and Vintage Keys sound packs to be used?
 
Thanks,
--
Greg Y.
 
 

AD2 is a separate product produced by XLN Audio and has nothing to do with Session Drummer made by Cakewalk.

Once you get the latest SONAR installed (and that is all you really need, don't waste time trying to ga back to square one or any square before 2016.04), you will see your exipration date and if it's wrong contact support and they can sort it out. 

Since I have X2 and X3 installed all I can say is Session Drummer is there. I have no idea if it is gone from the new SONAR.
 
If you want any content from any other products before SONAR then I suggest you install them in order (i.e. X1, X2 and X3) and then install Platinum. If you do it out of order you can mess things up.
 
Also, if you are installing older products (X1 etc.) DO NOT uninstall them whilst later version are installed as thet too can REALLY mess things up. I speak from the voice of experience.
 
Of course unless you have limited SSD C: space older products do not really take up that much space. You have to decide what is more important, older features/products or conservation of precious SSD space.
 
 

So my Dimension Pro 1.5 (all 3 of them :-) ), Melodyne Essential, Mellotron and Vintage Key sound packs (for Cakewalk Sound Center) and Rock Legends Kit 3 (for Session Drummer) are all no good now?  Sheesh, I never even heard the Mellotron or Vintage Keys sounds, and I didn't even realize I had a Melodyne thing.
 
Maybe I need to go and update my old DAW (still running X2, I believe) and update it so I can make use of those.  Actually I was hoping to retire that DAW once the new one was up and running.
 
--
Greg Y.